Fastest growing cities in Maine
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in Maine using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. Belfast
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 247
--- #6,732 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.7%
--- #41 among cities in Maine, #12,456 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,938
--- #22 largest city in Maine, #5,329 largest city nationwide
#19. Topsham
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 261
--- #6,555 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.1%
--- #39 among cities in Maine, #12,194 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,623
--- #24 largest city in Maine, #5,486 largest city nationwide
#18. Dexter
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +272
--- #6,435 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.9%
--- #12 among cities in Maine, #7,004 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,093
--- #64 largest city in Maine, #10,623 largest city nationwide
#17. Yarmouth
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 276
--- #6,392 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.7%
--- #37 among cities in Maine, #11,766 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,125
--- #26 largest city in Maine, #5,762 largest city nationwide
#16. Clinton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 279
--- #6,362 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 25.2%
--- #4 among cities in Maine, #4,545 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,386
--- #82 largest city in Maine, #12,927 largest city nationwide
#15. South Eliot
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 316
--- #5,991 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.3%
--- #23 among cities in Maine, #9,215 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,719
--- #39 largest city in Maine, #7,812 largest city nationwide
#14. Hampden
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +407
--- #5,315 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.9%
--- #21 among cities in Maine, #8,929 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,516
--- #33 largest city in Maine, #6,977 largest city nationwide
#13. Lewiston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 437
--- #5,139 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 1.2%
--- #52 among cities in Maine, #14,092 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,121
--- #2 largest city in Maine, #1,183 largest city nationwide
#12. North Windham
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +549
--- #4,612 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.6%
--- #16 among cities in Maine, #8,160 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,274
--- #30 largest city in Maine, #6,315 largest city nationwide
#11. Kennebunk
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +561
--- #4,562 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.8%
--- #20 among cities in Maine, #8,543 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,776
--- #28 largest city in Maine, #5,981 largest city nationwide
#10. Auburn
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 782
--- #3,816 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.4%
--- #44 among cities in Maine, #12,670 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,061
--- #5 largest city in Maine, #1,901 largest city nationwide
#9. Ellsworth
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +844
--- #3,638 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.2%
--- #17 among cities in Maine, #8,353 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,399
--- #18 largest city in Maine, #4,631 largest city nationwide
#8. Biddeford
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 1,062
--- #3,190 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.9%
--- #36 among cities in Maine, #11,615 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 22,552
--- #6 largest city in Maine, #2,030 largest city nationwide
#7. Orono
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,243
--- #2,908 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.9%
--- #15 among cities in Maine, #7,309 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,185
--- #13 largest city in Maine, #3,997 largest city nationwide
#6. South Portland
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,694
--- #2,392 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.8%
--- #30 among cities in Maine, #10,507 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 26,498
--- #4 largest city in Maine, #1,697 largest city nationwide
#5. Saco
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,983
--- #2,179 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.8%
--- #19 among cities in Maine, #8,531 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 20,381
--- #9 largest city in Maine, #2,217 largest city nationwide
#4. Brunswick
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,212
--- #2,008 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.9%
--- #13 among cities in Maine, #7,011 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,033
--- #11 largest city in Maine, #2,613 largest city nationwide
#3. Portland
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,270
--- #1,962 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.4%
--- #43 among cities in Maine, #12,628 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 68,408
--- #1 largest city in Maine, #583 largest city nationwide
#2. Westbrook
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,086
--- #1,553 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.8%
--- #8 among cities in Maine, #6,171 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 20,400
--- #8 largest city in Maine, #2,213 largest city nationwide
#1. Sanford
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,387
--- #453 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 107.5%
--- #1 among cities in Maine, #787 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 21,982
--- #7 largest city in Maine, #2,071 largest city nationwide
